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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

I have two adorable buns that were recently bonded, and now the boy is excessively grooming around the female's eyes. It is not to the point of breaking her skin, but she has lost a lot of fur around her eyes, and I am starting to get worried that I can't make him stop. He gets very obssessed with grooming her eye, and even when I interfere, as soon as I back off he will start again.

The girl is a dwarf hotot, and pretty shy, and she flinches when he grooms to hard, but does not stop him, or give him a bat to make him realize he is doing something wrong. The male is pretty young (probably only about 5 or 6 months) and part cottontail.

I have tried adding lots of toys to the pen, giving exercise time (about 1 hour a day, and they have quite a large living space as well), trying to interfere to break the habit, & brought them both to the vet to make sure there were no medical issues.

It has been recommended that I introduce a third bunny, does anyone else have any other advice?

Thanks!

GraveheartedCampbell, CA

2442 posts

11/15/2006 2:23 PM

well - sometimes when a bunny grooms one area excessively it can actually be a sign of a health issue, but since they've both been to the vet that likely isn't the issue. How long have they been together? He might chill out over time.

--It may be stress-related, in which case you should look for possible things that may be stressing your rabbit out, as well as possible tension between the bunnies, and whether there is adequate diet, and exercise. It also can be a sign of boredom.

--Some overgroomers just like to lick things, in which case you just need to try to get the bunny a different outlet for his licking.

Kramer and Juli have been together for about 2 months. There does not seem to be much tension between the two, they often are grooming each other (well, obviously he does it too much) and laying down and snuggling together. I thought it might be a boredom issue, is that something that will subside as he gets older? I have as many toys in the pen as I can give him, and I can't let him have run of the whole house al day as I am afraid I will come back and there will no longer be any legs on my coffee table!

His grooming of her eye seems to become a fixation/obsession for him, its not really a casual grooming! My vet says sometimes boy buns just go a little "nutso" but I'm sure there has to be some reason...

BBSan Francisco Area

Forum Leader

8683 posts

11/25/2006 11:09 PM

Has this problem gotten any better?

MooBunnayDallas, Texas (Allen)

3088 posts

11/27/2006 10:59 AM

Unfortunately the problem has continued....Juli and Kramer are now separated as a small spot on her eye was getting quite sore looking, but they are still very much in love, and I have made it so they are only separated by one cage wall, and can still lay next to each other and give kisses. They are allowed to spend time together at night.

I still am very sad when I have to separate them, so if anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. We tried to add a third bun to the group, as some people suggested a trio might decrease the amount of grooming time Kramer spend on Juli, but unfortunately Kramer is not very open to a new bun in his territory!!

I tried to add a pic again here....can anyone see it?

BBSan Francisco Area

Forum Leader

8683 posts

12/09/2006 11:09 PM

I don't see the picture. You can try and just put it in as an attachment. The option to add is below the box you type in.

Hmmm. I have personally not heard of adding a third bunny to stop the obsessive grooming. But then again, I am not aware of many obsessive groomers. I do know that bunnies can overgroom certain areas of another bunny that is already sore or has some abnormality. Sorry if this is repetitive, but did Julie have a problem on her eye in the first place that Kramer was licking? Even if it was very small.

I think right now keeping them separated when you can't watch them together is a good idea - at least until the sore completely heals.

But when they are together, maybe you could try stopping him, gentlypushing him away. And rewarding him with attention when he stops.

Does she groom him too?

MooBunnayDallas, Texas (Allen)

3088 posts

12/12/2006 10:51 AM

Hi!

Good news! Juli and Kramer are back together, apparently some kind of combination of giving them a very set schedule for playtime, munch time, and pets time helped out, along with giving them two litter boxes (they switch off which ones they use, but Juli gives Kramer a nudge on the bum any time he tries to get in the litter box WITH her...GOSH, can't boys give us girls any privacy???). Other than that they have gone back to being very adorable, Juli kisses Kramer though not quite as much as he grooms her, and she tends to groom him when they are hiding under her tent tunnel, she does not want to destroy her image of the pampered princess Her bald spots are still recovering, but have not gotten any worse, and they spend most of the day time doing spooning bunny flops!

Thanks for all the support....I don't know if the barbaring will start up again (it has stopped and restarted before) but I'm glad my buns are at peace for now

GraveheartedCampbell, CA

2442 posts

12/12/2006 1:28 PM

I am betting it was so excessive because they were a new pair, so glad to hear things have been improving!